Characterization of polyvinyl chloride–based floor covering thermal decomposition parameters in a cone calorimeter

Abstract

In an ISO 5660 Cone Calorimeter, heat fluxes were applied to a polyvinyl chloride–based floor covering to characterize their influence on the thermal decomposition parameters as well as on the concentrations of species emitted during the combustion process. Gas concentrations were quantified for identifying the fire behaviour and the decomposition chemistry. Thus, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen chloride and oxygen with concentrations and emission yields of high consistency were encountered at all heat fluxes considered. Moreover, nitrogen monoxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide and lightweight hydrocarbons were observed with low concentrations and emission yields. Other species can be considered as negligible due to their concentrations close to zero at all heat fluxes studied. Furthermore, using the oxygen consumption method, heat release rate, total heat release and effective heat of combustion were also calculated for each irradiance level and were compared with data found in the literature.

Reconstruction of the Grenfell Tower fire—Part 5: Contribution to the understanding of the tenability conditions inside the apartments following the façade fire

“…The HCl yield of the PVC window reveals lining is not dependent on vitiation conditions and remains constant whatever the conditions are. 50 The yields used for this product in the study are 0.27 g/g for HCl, 0.063 g/g for CO and 0.176 g/g for soot. 10,12,49 The heat of combustion and heat release rate per unit area were provided in reference 49.…”